Before I came to Chile, I contacted Campus Crusade and asked them if Crusade had a location in Valparaíso, Chile. I was put in contact with a missionary named Lisa, and she put me in contact with a Chilean student here named, Felipe. Since I've been here, I have been helping Felipe with a small bible study group of new believers, and it has been so cool, so humbling and such a blessing to be a part of this ministry. The Crusade program here in Valparaìso is very small and informal. It´s not a large program. Felipe pretty much heads it up with a few more university students in Santiago. He comes once a week to Valparaìso for small group study of which I´ve been able to be a part of.
Felipe's passion for Christ is infectious, and it is awesome to hear his testimony of what God has done in his life. Before becoming a Christian, he was agnostic. He became a Christian when he heard the gospel from a group of Campus Crusade university students from the States came for a summer missions project in Chile. (<<When Felipe told me that was how he heard the gospel and was saved, it made me think of the Crusade mission team that I went with to Bolivia and all the awesome things God did there.) It´s really awesome to see how God has changed his life so much in only two years.
I went to Santiago last weekend to see the ministry of Felipe's church there. It was so amazing. We went to a church in the outskirts of Santiago for a baptism ceremony with which Felipe was helping the pastor of his church. The church is under construction, and the plan, in addition to being a sister church, is to also have a small private school.
I was humbled by the thankful praise and tears of joy of the 3 people that were baptized. I was reminded of how great God is. And, I was reminded of the sweetness of my own salvation and how often I take it for granted.
I stayed with some church members and close friends of Felipe. It is a mother, Isabel, her son, Christian and his wife, Pame. They are the warmest, loving and genuine people. I felt like I was staying with family. I sat with them in their living room and we talked about life and shared our testimonies. I felt such a peace in their home, and I felt like I could hug Isabel like she was my mom.
Sunday, we went to the church where Felipe, Isabel, Christian and Pame go. I was washed over with the scripture. And, I was thankful to be in a room full of believers praising God. It is a wonderful body of believers there and a Christ-centered and scripture-based church.
I also saw a lot of Santiago too...
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| Cerro Santa Lucia |
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| At Cerro San Cristobal |
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On my way home from class yesterday, I just kept thinking...
I don't want to forget. I never want to forget. Sometimes, I see things, and they're just so sweet that it doesn't seem fair that I'm the only one that gets to see them. I wish I could hold them in my hand and roll them onto a canvas with all the original colors so that everyone could see. I try to make the pictures stick in my mind. But, when I blink the moment that I was watching is gone, and all I have left is the memory. So, I try to memorize it like I might be tested on it. But, when I'm walking or watching through the window of the bus, and I see hands holding, sun setting, smoke rings, carts full bursting with fruit, arms loaded with little round rolls from the panaderia, strings strumming, or when I feel the cold pacific air brushing my face, I don't want to forget.
Little bits of my day...
I get to walk by this new painting everyday now...
When I walk by a panaderia, I try to savor the warm bakery smell as long as I can.
I bought a 1/2 kilo of strawberries for Rosa because I could smell the sweetness when I walked past. We ate them for dessert, and they were soo sweet. :)
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I'm in love with this Chilean folk lore artist named Pascuala Ilibaca. She is actually originally from Valparaíso. She came last week and performed at the Teatro Municipal in Valpo, and a bunch of us went to her concert. Here is one of my favorite songs by her, and this video was filmed in Valpo not far from where I live.
my songs that walk with me this week...
My eyelids are so heavy. un besito, buenas noches, mi amor.
love,
sophie
I love reading your posts! So glad you are having such an awesome experience! Love ya....Sherry
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